Imagine finding out that a loved one has been deceiving you for years, fabricating a serious illness to get their hands on your money.
This is exactly what happened to a family in Horsham, who were allegedly scammed out of over $1 million by a man who claimed he had cancer.
The Elaborate Lie
The scammer, a 30-year-old man from Western Australia, reportedly used the proceeds from the sale of a family home in Alfredton without his partner’s knowledge or consent.
When questioned about the missing funds, he spun a web of lies, telling his family that he had made a smart investment that would yield a $2 million profit.
But when the money failed to materialize, he took his deception to the next level, claiming he had been diagnosed with cancer and was a victim of fraud.
A Trail of Falsehoods
To convince his family of his fake illness, the man created false email accounts and impersonated two different lawyers to back up his claims.
He even managed to swindle an additional $1.2 million from his loved ones, using their trust and goodwill to line his own pockets.
But that’s not all – he also used a fraudulent document to purchase a brand-new car from a Horsham dealership, worth a staggering $69,830.
Justice Finally Served
After a thorough investigation, the man was arrested in Ararat on July 8, 2024.
He has since been charged with 28 offenses, including 10 counts of obtaining property by deception and 13 counts of making false documents.
The perpetrator will face the music at the Horsham Magistrates’ Court on June 25.
This shocking case serves as a warning to be vigilant and cautious when dealing with loved ones, and to always verify the truth before handing over large sums of money.